Munich's Surfers Left Stunned After Famed River Wave Vanishes
A standing wave in a Munich stream that has been a surfing magnet for more than four decades has vanished, leaving urban surfers high and dry. The Eisbach wave, a landmark in the Bavarian city, has disappeared, leaving surfers and locals alike perplexed.
Water levels in the Eisbach dropped last week for annual cleanup work along the streambed. But when the gates reopened and water began to flow again on Friday, the Eisbach wave did not form as usual. Klaus Rudolf, a surfer, expressed his astonishment, stating, 'We're at a loss. I was standing at the edge with my board on Friday evening and couldn't believe it.'
The Eisbach wave in the Englischer Garten park has become a significant attraction in Munich since rogue surfers in the 1980s transformed it from an occasional natural phenomenon to a permanent surfable presence. The city administration is working with the Water Management Office and surfers to find a quick solution, as Mayor Dieter Reiter assured in a statement, 'The city administration is working with the Water Management Office and surfers to find a quick solution so that the famous surf wave will soon be available again as usual.'
The exact reason for the wave's disappearance remains unclear, according to city officials. The recent cleanup work involved clearing debris from the streambed and inspecting the waterway, but no structural changes were made to the Eisbach wave or its banks. An inspection on Monday did not reveal any damage.
Officials plan to divert more water from the Isar River into the Eisbach, hoping the wave will reappear. The Eisbach wave is renowned as the largest and most consistent river wave in the heart of a major city and has become a tourist attraction in Bavaria's state capital, known for its beer and sausage at the annual Oktoberfest. Franz Fasel, head of the local surfers' association, emphasized the wave's significance, stating, 'Surfing is simply part of the lifestyle in Munich, not just for the surfers but also for the city's image.'
The wave had recently reopened after a months-long closure following the death of a 33-year-old Munich woman who became trapped under the surface while surfing at night. New safety rules were introduced, banning night-time surfing and setting a minimum age of 14 to brave the water.
